ailsa

Look what I found:






There's more, but I can't post more than three videos at a time due to forum rules...

I had the back of one thigh done a little less than a week ago, it has stayed "sunburn/punched repeatedly" sore longer than the fronts, but nothing crazy. Sitting has been fine, getting into and out of the car has been the most annoying movement. Shorts have also been my healing attire of choice because of the weather here. The hardest part was straining my neck from lying badly on my front for 4 hours.

Personally for me I have a long list of what I want and where I want it, it's only been lack of money that's stopped me from getting them, which is fine as my mind changes a couple times, not with what but with the placement of them.
Perfect example, I've booked in for my thighs in April a set of lyrics, almost a motto for my life and I've wanted it for years but it has dawned on me the more I learn about the art of tattooing and composition that it's not the best place for those lyrics so I'm changing it to something more suitable for that area.
Once I've got all the tattoos I've got planned done, I'm looking forward to getting some flash done after reading a few articles I've found through LST on the subject.

You don't have to hove as much as just ease yourself on the seat, I think the back of my knee swelling up was/is the worst part of healing back of thigh tattoo. For the record Dickies work pants are my healing tattoo pant of choice. Jeans are okay but just a little tougher to get on.

I normally covered the side of the seat with toilet paper until it started flaking.

Haha I use scrubs as my pyjamas! I used to work in a sterile hospital unit where we'd have to wear brand new scrubs every shift so every now and then I'd take a pair of bottoms home with me. So comfy! I've been living in them whilst my calf heals.
I agree with @slayer9019, I wouldn't want to wear jeans during the healing, I live in skinny jeans normally so I'd imagine that'd do nothing but piss the new tattoo off.

Well I can tell you it isn't fun! Any sitting I do generally involves me sitting half-assed most of the time. I give up using any pocket that touches the area as even something like loose change can bother it. Loose pants whenever possible (skip jeans) because if you got scabs it feels terrible. Other than that normal healing

God this makes me so sad. I personally believe that unless it's the name of your family you should never get names tattooed on you. It bothers me so much that the girls haven't even bothered to look and see what he's done to other women. Or they have and still gone through with it anyway!
I don't mind face tattoos I think some can look cool but it's the whole ownership thing which bothers me the most about this, someone that possessive obviously has issues which can lead to trouble elsewhere in the relationship.

A cabbage leaf?! Haha!
Okay so just asked Google, can't believe that works! That's amazing, learn something new everyday. And also sounds more beneficial than my bag of peas!

I think Drake should send you a fat-ass tip for saving his life, because now he'll be able to see that crazy chick coming from 100 yards away.

God this makes me so sad. I personally believe that unless it's the name of your family you should never get names tattooed on you. It bothers me so much that the girls haven't even bothered to look and see what he's done to other women. Or they have and still gone through with it anyway!
I don't mind face tattoos I think some can look cool but it's the whole ownership thing which bothers me the most about this, someone that possessive obviously has issues which can lead to trouble elsewhere in the relationship.

I think the important thing with the arnica is that you start taking it around a day before getting tattooed because it needs to already be in your system to be effective.

Ah no it's not painful anymore, even though I'm still scabby in some places where a lot of the work was done. It's just good to know this stuff is meant to happen as It's really my first sizable tattoo.
I'm assuming this is the final stage, not had much of the itching but taken on board someone's advice and been taking antihistamines to help with swelling so that probably helped the itching too.
EDIT: @username1 looking forward to seeing what you've had done! sounds really interesting!

Turns out I didn't touch wood fast enough, this morning I woke up to pretty much my entire tattoo peeling. I'm still washing and putting lotion on it once a day and hope it doesn't effect the tattoo too much!

Turns out I didn't touch wood fast enough, this morning I woke up to pretty much my entire tattoo peeling. I'm still washing and putting lotion on it once a day and hope it doesn't effect the tattoo too much!

peeling/flaking is similar to when you get a bad sun burn and the damaged skin dries out and falls off as it heals
scabbing is similar to when you fall and scrape your knee and a thick scab forms after a day or so

Yeah I went back to work today and I've done some walking on the ankle but today was the first day since I've had it done that I've had to do a large amount of walking and initially by the end of the day I felt like I was able to walk pretty normal but as soon as I got home and rested it, it started swelling and burning up and now putting my foot on the floor is searing pain.
I think antihistamines and elevation are the key! Which I need to follow more religiously! Good luck with your work @else! Would be really interested to hear how you get on :-)

First things first.
TELL your wife what you are doing.
If she objects to the size, I'm sorry, but that's her problem, not yours.
Seriously, if this was a Lady getting some work done, no one would be like "oh, you better tell your man first!", they'd tell her to just go for it.
.02

There's a lot of great advice here from David Bruehl about nutrition and tattoos that is well worth considering:
Nibble and Sip Revisited: Tattoo Nutrition « Occult Vibrations
Also be well-rested. This, in my experience, is the most important factor in managing the pain.
It probably won't be the greatest five hours of your life but at the end of it you're going to end up with a great tattoo. Plus you'll have tough guy bragging rights here for doing a five hour session on your ribs.

if you dont soak the leg, and dont take a long shower, you should be fine. Just after you get out of the shower, let it completely dry before you do aanything to it

Best to ask them beforehand. I know some shops are cool with it while others are not. My buddy and I sometime stop in since we are always getting tattooed by the same time (consistently for the last 2 years) by the same guy. Nobody seems to mind us at all as long as you're out of the way, plus I guess it helps that we are constant customers.

I show up an hour early, stand in the window and shake with excitement while chain smoking and yelling "COME ON FUCKER. COME ON!!!"

i really like it!!!! Glad to have you around!

Hi everyone! Thanks for the great response!
this is what I had done: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=488308507877001&set=a.409124015795451.85803.172055016169020&type=1&theater
(hope that works) it's the title of one of my favourite songs 'All Signs Point To Lauderdale' by A Day To Remember. I got it done by Scott Falbo who works at Apocalypse Tattoo in Seattle. I live in Bristol, UK so I had to get it done all in one sitting. Took 4 hours, the ankle area was a killer but seems to be the least painful place now when I put lotion on it!
Happy to report the swelling is now gone after 7 days, just looking forward to it being all nice and bright again once the scabs fall off.
I also have the back of my thighs booked in for April 13th by Toni Moore at Broad St Tattoo in Bath. If anyone has any tips on healing thigh tattoos I'll definitely take it on board! I walked into the calf tattoo with no realisation of the aftermath that comes with it haha.
Anyway, will definitely be hanging about here, you all seem to know what you're talking about unlike most of the internet!

Hi everyone!
Just signed up to say thank you for one of your threads on lower leg tattoos, I recently (5 days ago) got the back of my calf done and my ankle and foot has swollen, which being a novice at this it made me panic, so asking the good doctor Google what was wrong it lead me to one of your threads and now I'm much more confident about the healing of my tattoo!
so thank you, much appreciated!
Ailsa